I do, and I’m not sure if it’s weird or not. So I decided to ask y’all what you thought.
(And no, I’m not going to post to this thread again for a cheap laugh. If I do, it’ll be for an EXPENSIVE laugh!)
No, in fact I think it’s cheap if the OP doesn’t contribute. Did they just throw something out there and then walk away?
On this, and on the other forums I’ve posted on over the years, I always thought of starting a thread as inviting people into a topic. Continuing to contribute after the OP is just being a good host, to my mind.
I believe this to be what they call a “no win situation”, Leaper. 
I’m never quite sure how often to post again… If I’m online, I might want to every 30 minutes, or else it might be 24 hours. Not like I’m babysitting the thread, but not like I’m ignoring it, either. It’s a conundrum.
I don’t start threads very often, and when I do it’s usually in GQ, where there wouldn’t be much point (if i knew the answer, I wouldn’t have asked). But in general, no – I don’t mind re-contributing, especially if I wasn’t clear in the first place.
I generally try to repost at least once, if only to say thanks.
Me, too, especially if I’ve asked a question, or for advice. Remind me–gotta check the bookkeeping for secretaries thread!
I think it’s necessary to contribute to my OP, whether it is to argue, agree, or thank, as appropriate.
I do, occasionally, not do so, when it is obvious that the OP is dying on the vine. If others are interested enough to reply - to argue, agree, or thank - then it is only fair for me to remain a participant.
I totally feel weird about it, and I avoid it whenever possible.
I’m always scared someone will thinking I’m giving it a bump or just thread padding.
If someone asks me a direct question I’ll usually reply.
I really hate “seagull” posters- they fly in, shit and fly off, never to asnwer questions or tellus what happened next. If you start a thread, you contribute to that thread, if nothing else to say “thank you” to anyone who answered your query.
Every OP I make is a perfect microcosm of awesomeness, therefore any subsequent posts I made would only taint the cosmic balance of the thread.
Screw it, I’ve dug my OPs out of page 3 before. If its just a poll I don’t repost, but a discussion better have more input from the OPer…if you didn’t really care you wouldn’t have asked in the first place.
Most threads read to me like a conversation, so I agree that it’s only good manners to post at least one more time. I have noticed one or two posters who frequently start threads and then just disappear, and having noticed that, their OP’s are much less interesting.
I agree that you should participate in the thread you started. Even if you’ve simply asked a straight question that gets a correct answer, you should acknowledge it with a simple thank you. And you should definitely participate in a debate thread or one where other people have questions about your OP.
It depends on what the thread is. If it’s a question, like my cold-reading question, even in GQ I will post to add more information as I deem necessary. In IMHO I may post some more input or reactions to people’s comments.
It’s usually only when it gets down to either squabbling or the thread is hijacked* that I stop answering.
*I don’t really mind if the thread is hijacked. People are forever apologizing about this, but I’d like to go on the record and say - most of the time, it’s cool.
That’s it exactly.
Yeah, I almost always check in at some point if for no reason other than to acknowledge the responses - express thanks, if you will. It can feel a tad awkward on the occasions your original position was strongly rejected by the respondents, but I generally consider it good manners. But I do not believe you are required to continue to strongly argue one side or another. At other times, I find a thread does not turn out to be as interesting as I had hoped, and I simply lose interest. But I generally don’t ask that such threads be closed, in case anyone else wishes to continue.
My problem isn’t the first reply - that’s just good manners. My problem is the second, third, fourth et al replies. I want to thank everyone individually, or respond or simply acknowledge that they added something to the thread and my day, but how many ways can you say thanks? When is it, as someone upthread said, going to be interpreted as post count padding or thread bumping? How boring is it to read:
**Sitnam **- I know what you mean, but hey, most of my OP’s don’t get anywhere near page three! I hit post three and I feel lucky! 
**justpassingthrough **- Yep, I agree!
Dewey Finn - Every single one? That’s the problem I’m having. When can I stop? What about those GD’s or GQ’s I start that take off way over my head? I try to keep up, but there are a few which I’ve just gotten lost on when the experts weigh in and start arguing.
**Anaamika **- Yeah, I like hijacks too. That’s where the conversation metaphor works out - you don’t usually have strictly defined conversations with friends, they sort of wander around.
**Dinsdale **- Absolutely.
And then my brain goes: “Oh, crap, I left **twickster **out. Is she going to be hurt? It’s not that I disagree with her, I just have nothing further to add, so what’s the point?”
I have posted to say - I’m still here, I’m listening, I have nothing to contribute but the discussion is fascinating. Please carry on. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it kills the thread.